Have you ever tried to teach other people you know how to use the computer? Have you tried it using e-mail? Ugh! Very frustrating!

I don't know if you all remember when I was working on the freelance project for my uncle last fall (I mentioned it in the Random Thoughts thread frequently at the time), but I'm still experiencing the reprecussions (sp?) of it. The project was for a website for his business and I'm trying to teach him really basic computer skills so that he can be able to operate the website and other such internet tasks on his own.

I must continue the practice of patience.

I teach Continuing Education programs at a local technical school in the evenings. They are just Microsoft programs, what could be so hard? I loose my patience about once an hour in the class. Perhaps it's the age factor. I was just on the beginning of the computer generation. I had a laptop through college. It's like teaching a classroom full of my parents. "Where's the any key?" :eek:

Many times. The thing to keep in mind is that computers are extremely logical, but that the logic is not necessarily common sensical (for example, if you remember old command line FTP I would have a lot of students get confused by "put" and "get" and which went in which direction; it's logical, but not necessarily for the logical structure they'd think of: "but I'm putting it on my computer").

Teaching people the steps A-F of doing a specific task is fine, but it remains almost mystical to many people because they don't understand (or aren't taught) the reasoning that underlies everything and so everything becomes memorizing steps A-F and not realizing how things interact preventing self discovery. Back when I was doing temp work, the agencies would always test me on various software and I would score well even on things I'd never used because I understood how Microsoft products worked or how word processors tend to work so I could extrapolate from those things I know.

That said, one time while I working at Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington I had this older gentleman return repeatedly asking how to do something. And I kept sending him back with instructions and a couple minutes later he'd be back. Finally I went over to help him and learned something interesting. He was a visiting professor from some third world country and had never used a computer with a mouse. He'd only ever used command line interfaces. He was trying to use the mouse by moving it around in the air (higher to move the cursor up and so on).

On that day I learned something important about computer instruction. Whenever it seems like I am not getting through on something, it is almost never the fault of the person I'm trying to teach. They're not stupid or intentionally obtuse. Almost every time it is that I've assumed something to be obvious, when it really isn't.

Hmm...me teaching someone a new computer skill? Now that's a scary thought!!!! :p


Maybe Javanod should answer this one!! :)


Although I could teach you how to edit you avatar and profile here at MP...I've had lots of practice and success at that!! :D

Have you ever tried to teach other people you know how to use the computer? Have you tried it using e-mail? Ugh! Very frustrating!

Ugh, don't even go there!

Working on the end of a customer support line for a product used by teachers is nice and frustrating :rolleyes:

I much prefer doing development :D

Yeah. My mother. She is so illiterate when it comes to technical things. We help her with her computer. We help her learn her new cell phone. Most of her problem is that she won't read the manuals, or try to larn anything herself.

Then, she often gets herself into places that I have no idea how she gets herself there. Piglet doesn't do the damage to a computer that she does. Then she says "fix it!" and I have no idea how. But, of course, to hear her tell it, she didn't do anything, it did it itself. Very frustrating! :rolleyes:

But I love her!

Have you ever tried to teach other people you know how to use the computer? Have you tried it using e-mail? Ugh! Very frustrating!



Just about every single day. I'm a computer tech for the school department here in my city. In a nutshell, I spend loads of time teaching teachers. :)

Over the years I've taught hundreds of people how to do just about every individual computer task I know. The level of frustration varies according to the student's level of experience, love or hatred of the computer, their ego (no, no, I already KNOW how to do everything PERFECTLY!), and the relative complexity of the subject matter.

The most difficult part about teaching is communication. You might think that since you speak English, and your Dad speaks English, that you are speaking the same language. But, as John Belushi once put it, NOOOOOOOOOOOO! When I say Desktop, an experienced computer user immediately thinks of the Windows Desktop. Inexperienced users think of the flat table surface on which the computer keyboard rests; the thing which experienced users call 'Desktop' is known among novices by many names: Main Screen, Background, Wallpaper, Start Screen, and The Windows Screen, to name a few.

If you want to teach effectively, you have to know the mindset, experience, and level of experience of your students, otherwise you'll be speaking gibberish to them.

All the time. In 1991, I left my classroom to become a technology resource teacher. My first personal computer was an Atari 800, my first modem 300 baud. My school used DOS 3.3 and 5.1 as the operating system. I remember using Gopher to find information on the internet. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

The thing I run up against most often these days is this: what do you call the main box containing the processor? Is it the CPU (not really)? I've heard it called "the modem," "the what?," "the monitor stand," but my favorite is "the box with the cupholder." (ok, I confess they knew it was the cd-rom drawer. :))

I always have to resort to "ok, which piece of equipment has a lot of wires coming out of the back, including one or more connected to the wall"

oh..don't go even go there, me and my brother taught computer skills class at his work...it was the most frustrating thing i have ever done!...sooooooo sloowwwwww..aieeeeeee
I feel the need, the need for SPEED

The thing I run up against most often these days is this: what do you call the main box containing the processor? Is it the CPU (not really)? I've heard it called "the modem," "the what?," "the monitor stand," but my favorite is "the box with the cupholder." (ok, I confess they knew it was the cd-rom drawer. :))

I always have to resort to "ok, which piece of equipment has a lot of wires coming out of the back, including one or more connected to the wall"

My mothers computer needed work done (viruses and spyware. She has no desire to learn anything about the computer. I think she can get e-mail...sometimes..) anyway, I told her to have the computer by the door and I would take it home and work on it. I walked in the house and there set the monitor...*arrrgghhhh*

another cute story. She had me order our DL tickets online with my fathers credit card. We then found out the carholder had to pick the tickets up. I told her to call the ticket line and have the card credited and have them put the tickets on her card. They told her they would have to be ordered on the internet, btu they credited the card. She just said OK. When she told me the story she added..."I didn't tell him I was computer illerterate. You need to order them." ..LOL

I've done a bit of computer training in my time both one on one and to large groups but the hardest, and most rewarding, group of people to teach the "joys" of computing to are older peopl (60+) who for some have not only never used a computer but are literally scared of using one because they believe they are "too old" or "will break it". It takes some time and patience abut once you see them "get it" and far that first email off to their grandchildren (And get the reply) it is well and truely worth the effort.

One of my screts is try and use familar concepts. FOr email for example never mention things like ISPs, email servers, IMAP or any of that other geek language we computer people like to use to make us sound bright. Instead use examples like Your email is waiting in the mail box and by checking you for new email you are going to the mailbox and seeing if there is anything there (My Grandmother thought she had to have the machine on checking mail all the time so she wouldn't miss any. Once I used the above example and explained it like a phusical mailbx where the mail waited until she checked it she got the concept.)

The other hard on is when there are lanuage barriers. Some students I've taught are ESOL students (English as a Second Language) and agin it just takes a little time to break things down a little but you'll get there in the end.

One thing I have learnt. The more I teach the better I become bot as a teacher, useing computers and as a person.

I grew up using a computer starting in like 3rd grade so it seems crazy to me for people to not know how to do simple things. I had to show both my parents over and over and over....... how to copy and paste :rolleyes:

ahhhh I am still learning to do the count down HELP))))))))))

Have you ever tried to teach other people you know how to use the computer? Have you tried it using e-mail? Ugh! Very frustrating!
I have in the past and it can be frustrating. I think it comes down to some people being afraid to click the button. When Windows throws up a dialogue box that they are not familiar with they freeze. A more experienced user is willing to examine what's happening and make a choice.

Just last night I set up a blog. I wanted a way to post some diary type entries and pictures of the incoming baby (2 more weeks or so). Michelle (my wife) showed it to her mother today and now apparently I have to set her up with one sometime soon. Blogger makes it fairly easy but I'm still learning, so teaching my MIL at the same time should be an adventure.